Twins Triumph Over Royals in Key Division Matchup

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins secured an 8-3 victory against the Kansas City Royals on Monday night, highlighted by a powerful six-run second inning. Willi Castro's three-run home run and Royce Lewis's two-run shot propelled the Twins to their sixth win in eight encounters with the Royals this season. This victory keeps the Twins 3.5 games behind the American League Central leader, the Cleveland Guardians, while the Royals remain five games back in the playoff race. Pablo López, the Twins' starting pitcher, delivered a solid performance, allowing two earned runs over six innings, marking his third win in four starts. Despite conceding an early home run to Bobby Witt Jr. and an RBI single to Kyle Isbel, who recorded three hits, López managed to stabilize the game. The Twins capitalized on a shaky outing from Royals starter Brady Singer, who struggled after a strong start to the season. The Royals, currently holding the third spot in the division, are striving to return to the playoffs for the first time since their 2015 World Series victory. Second baseman Michael Massey, who had been dealing with back tightness, returned to the lineup after a brief absence. Meanwhile, the team enjoyed a rare day off following a two-game series against the St. Louis Cardinals. In roster news, pitcher Lugo, who leads Major League Baseball in wins, continues to impress with an 8-2 record and a 2.37 ERA on the road this season. New addition Matthews, recently called up from Triple-A St. Paul, expressed excitement about joining the team, noting the supportive reaction from his teammates.